Shey Gompa and Inner Dolpo

Overview

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An isolated trek in western Nepal on the trail of the Snow Leopard

Introduction

Dolpo was made famous by Peter Matthiessen's book Snow Leopard and more recently, Eric Valli's stunningly visual film 'Himalaya', which documents the annual migration of the Dolpo yak herders. During the trek you will visit the intensely blue Phoksumdo Lake and cross the Kang La (5,110m) to reach Shey Gompa in Inner (Upper) Dolpo. Dolpo still sees few visitors and as such, you can expect a very different experience compared to some of the more popular treks in Nepal. If you would like to trek through a wild and rugged region, and immerse yourself in Tibetan-Buddhist culture, then this is the trek for you.

Join us on the Shey Gompa and Inner Dolpo Trek

• Experience the 'wild west' of Nepal, considered to be the last enclave of pure Tibetan culture and one of the few remaining natural habitats of the Snow Leopard
• Visit Phoksundo Lake, inaccessible Shey Gompa and cross the 5,110m Kang La Phedi, a remote and spectacular pass
• Located in the rain shadow, it's possible to visit this region of Nepal in September
• Treks led by experienced and qualified Sherpa guides with experience of the region
• Safety back up - including Satellite communications, Portable Altitude Chamber (PAC), emergency oxygen for therapeutic use and altitude drugs
• Donkeys carry your kit bag, so you only need carry a day pack

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Experience Required

The Shey Gompa and Inner Dolpo trek is a tough trek, suitable for experienced trekkers who are able to walk up to 7 hours a day. You need to be mentally prepared for consecutive days of tough trekking in an extremely remote part of the Himalaya.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the trek or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Dates & Prices

Date	With Flight	or Meeting in	Availability
Sat 5 Sep – Fri 25 Sep 2026	UK	Kathmandu	Available Book now »
2 places left with £100 early booking offer	£5,695 £5,595	£4,695 £4,595
Sat 4 Sep – Fri 24 Sep 2027	UK	Kathmandu	Available Book now »
2 places left with £200 early booking offer	£5,595 £5,395	£4,695 £4,495

This trek is available to book in GBP, USD and EUR.
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Group size: 3 – 9 people.

Single room supplement: £400

For comparison, this trek starts from £224 (GBP) per day (price Without Flights).

With Flight pricing

Our 'With Flight' price includes an Economy class return airfare from the UK. The cost is based on a group fare that we have already reserved, or individual seats that we have budgeted for. Note that in some circumstances, the earlier you book, the less expensive the airfare and the 'With Flight' price.

Know Before You Go

Jagged Globe supports the British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) 'Know Before You Go' campaign. We recommend that you read the FCDO Travel Advice for Nepal on the FCDO Website.

What the price includes

• Economy class return airfares from the UK (unless Land Only).
• UK airline taxes.
• One in-country, return flight between Kathmandu and Nepalgunj by scheduled, fixed-wing aircraft.
• One in-country, return flight between Nepalgunj and Juphal by scheduled, fixed-wing aircraft.
• Two return transfers between the airport and the hotel (one on arrival and departure of your international flight and one for departure and arrival of your in-country flight).
• 3 nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at a 4-star Hotel in Kathmandu on a twin-sharing basis.
• 1 nights' full-board accommodation in a local hotel on a twin-sharing basis.
• 15 nights' full board accommodation in tents.
• Emergency equipment (oxygen for therapeutic use, Portable Hyperbaric Chamber (PAC), Satellite Communicator (either phone or InReach)) - see trip PDF for more details.
• Trekking permits for Inner (upper) and Lower Dolpo.
• All costs for a Jagged Globe Guide and local support team.
• Jagged Globe kitbag or lightweight fleece.

What the price does not include

• Visa fees.
• Overseas airports taxes not paid in advance through the international airline ticket.
• Bar bills and laundry.
• Travel insurance.
• Lunch and evening meals in Kathmandu.
• Optional trips and sightseeing tours.
• Tips.

Tailor Made Trips

We can organise this trek on a ‘tailor-made’ private basis for groups of friends, families, clubs, charities or any other group. The cost of going private can be surprisingly reasonable. Please contact us to discuss the itinerary and your preferred dates. We will then send you a quote, with no obligation.

Insurance

You will need a travel insurance policy that caters for the activities you will undertake on your trip with Jagged Globe. It is a requirement of our booking conditions that you have such a policy. For a list of insurers who specialise in mountaineering, trekking and skiing, please see our Travel Insurance page »

Itinerary

Here is an outline itinerary for this trip. A more detailed day-to-day itinerary is available as a downloadable PDF »

Typical Itinerary

Day 1 - 2:	Fly to Kathmandu Team members joining on a "land-only", please plan to arrive in Kathmandu on Day 2 no later than 1630, when your services will begin. Overnight hotel.
Day 3:	Fly to Nepalgunj An early morning flight to Nepalgung. Overnight Batika.
Day 4:	Flight to Juphal, trek to Dunai (2,140m) During the flight you can enjoy superb views of the Annapurnas, Dhaulagiris and of Manaslu before landing on the unsurfaced runway at Juphal (2,250m). It's a 3 hour trek to Dunai, where you camp for the night at 2,140m.
Day 5:	Trek to Chhepka (2,650m) You will enter the Shey Phoksundo National Park and trek to Chhepka via Suligard. At Suligard you head north and trek alongside the Suli Khola, through pine and fir trees, mostly quite close to the river, to a campsite at Chhepka. 6 - 7 hours. Overnight camp.
Day 6 - 7:	Trek to Ringmo (3,600m) via Renje (3,010m) The trail continues beside the Phoksundo Khola, with several bridge crossings before you reach your camp at Renje (6 hours). From Renje you climb up through the forest to the high alpine meadows of Ringmo, after 6 hours.
Day 8:	Acclimatisation day to Phoksundo Lake You'll climb steeply above the valley for superb views of the lake. Return to Ringmo. Overnight camp.
Day 9 - 10:	Trek to Kang La Phedi (4,400m) Above Ringmo you enter Inner (Upper) Dolpo. The trail skirts around the western side of the lake, then climbs up to above 4,000m before dropping down again with a night spent at 3,600m (6 hours). From here, you head north, wading across the river in places (Teva style sandals required) to eventually enter a steep-sided valley, with impressive rock walls. You'll arrive at a campsite below the Kang La pass. This is a very remote and exposed campsite in a stunning situation (7 hours).
Day 11:	Cross Kang La Phedi (5,110m) to Shey Gompa (4,160m) It takes around 3 hours to climb up to the top of the pass, the final section being quite steep. The trail is on scree and can be snow-covered. From the top there are incredible views into Snow Leopard country, before the steep descent down the far side into an open valley. After a further 3 hours you arrive at Shey Gompa ( 6 - 7 hours).
Day 12:	Exploration around Shey Gompa You'll have a whole day to enjoy Shey Gompa (the 'Crystal Monastery' was built in the 11th century) and surroundings, with its colourful Tibetan murals.
Day 13:	Spare day
Day 14 - 18:	Return trek to Julphal via Dunai
Day 19:	Return flight to Kathmandu Overnight hotel.
Day 20:	At Leisure in Kathmandu A chance to explore the bustling capital, with its beautiful temples and bustling markets. Overnight hotel.
Day 21:	Fly home Airport transfer. For those joining "land-only", you should book your flight home today.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary, but as this is adventure travel in a remote mountain region, we cannot guarantee it! Weather conditions, availability of porters and the health of team members can all contribute to changes. The guides and their Sherpa assistants will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but please be prepared to be flexible if necessary.

Photos & Videos

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Reports & Reviews

First Trek: October 2015
Total: 2 trips

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Team Member Reviews

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